Public transportation
The number of public transportation is quite limited.
The air-conditioned metro (Tel: (0800) 595 11 11. Internet: www.metrorio.com.br) is clean, convenient and efficient and probably the safest form of transportation in Rio, but it only covers a small area. There are two routes, which are used Monday to Saturday from 5 a.m. to midnight, and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Line 1 runs from Cantagalo to Sãens Pena underground station, line 2 starts at Estacio underground station and ends at Pavuna underground station.
Information is available by phone (Tel: (021) 483 53 57). Tickets can only be bought in the underground stations. Visitors should be careful when leaving subway stations in unfamiliar areas.
Buses are also relatively cheap, but are often crowded during peak hours. One should be careful during this time and at night, because then pickpockets are out for prey. Single tickets can be bought from the conductor, who sits in the back of the bus next to the turnstile.
Jardineira buses ( frescão) drive along the beaches from Copacabana to São Conrado and Barra and can be stopped on the route.
For tourists there is the City Bus , which passes many sights, including the Copacabana and Ipanema beaches and large hotels.
With the Trem de Corcovado, the first electrified railway in Brazil from 1884 (Tel: (021) 25 58 13 29. Internet: www.corcovado.com.br) , you can access the Drive the mountain of the same name (journey time 20 minutes).
The cable car bondinho runs every 30 minutes from Praia Vermelha to Morro da Urca and from there to the Sugar Loaf Mountain (396 meters) from 08.10-22.00. The journey takes 3 minutes.
Taxis
The best way to see the area and get safely from place to place in Rio is by taxi. Yellow taxis with a blue stripe can be stopped on the street, while white radio taxis with a red and yellow stripe must be ordered by phone.
In addition to the taxis at the airport, which are paid in advance, taxis are equipped with taximeters. A flag ( bandeira) indicates the usual tariff with “1”, after 10:00 p.m., on Sundays and public holidays and in December the tariff is “2”, ie the fares are 20% more expensive.
The fares are i. A. Adequate, although late night taxi drivers sometimes charge fixed prices that can be more than three times the normal fee. Radio taxis (Tel: 26 02 02 2) are reliable, but 30% more expensive than the yellow taxis.
Reputable providers include:
Central de Táxi (tel: (021) 593 25 98),
Coopertramo (tel: (021) 27 01 44 2) and
Transcopass (tel: (021) 25 60 48 88).
Driving in the city
Driving in the city center can be a daunting task due to the many one-way streets and is not recommended. Seat belts should be worn and extreme caution is required. Traffic basically doesn’t follow any rules, and parking in the city center is next to impossible. Visitors who take a day trip to Rio by car should park it in a secure parking garage and have it supervised.
Car rental
The major car rental companies with agencies in the city include:
Avis, Avenida Princesa Isabel 150, Copacabana (Tel: (021) 542 33 92. Internet. Www.avis.com);
Hertz, Avenida Princesa Isabel 334B (Tel: (021) 275 74 40. Internet. Www.hertz.com);
Localiza, Avenida Princesa Isabel 214 (Tel: (021) 275 33 40. Internet: www.localiza.com.br) and
Budget, Avenida Princesa Isabel 350 (Tel: (021) 295 00 40).
Many rental car companies are represented at Terminal 1 of the international airport (Tel: (021) 33 98 41 06).
The minimum age for renting a car is determined by the respective company regulations, but is usually 23 years.
The prices depend on the type of car and whether the car has air conditioning. Sometimes discounts can be achieved depending on the rental period and payment method agreed.
Insurance must always be taken out and a credit card is required, because many companies are reluctant to accept travelers checks or US dollars in cash. However, you can pay in cash with the local currency and for this u. May get a discount. It is often the cheapest to book in advance from abroad.
Bicycle rental
Sports enthusiasts can enjoy themselves on Rua Figueiredo Magalhães 285 s. 303, Copacabana (Tel: (021) 257 17 26), on Avenida Borges de Medeiros, opposite Tom Jobim Park, Lagoa, or at Special Bike, Rua Visconde de Pirajá 135 B (Tel: (021) 25 21 26 86 Internet: www.specialbike.com.br) rent a bike.
Rio has a total of 74 km of cycle paths, which, no matter where they are, are much more pleasant than riding in city traffic. They run from the city center to the South Zone and to Bara da Tijuca, mostly along the beach. In Tijuca National Park there are 6 km of cycle paths.
